ILLUMINATION SOURCE FOR STAINED BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

• US 20080144169A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zahniser, Michael, Zahniser, David, Parsons, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,561,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/385
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/086 for transillumination only

Abstract

A microscope illumination system includes a light source having at least four LED light sources, each LED source emitting light within a different portion of the visible spectrum. Each of the at least four LED light sources may be independently controllable. The resultant light emitted from the at least four LED sources substantially approximates that from an incandescent light source. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one red LED, at least one green LED, at least one blue LED, and at least one yellow LED. Other color combinations are also possible. The illumination may be positioned to place a sample holder such as a slide within the optical path of the light source. The system further includes an optical magnification system for magnifying an image of the biological sample. This may include a camera or traditional magnification optics.

Claims

1. An illumination system for stained biological samples comprising:

at least four LED light sources, each LED source emitting light within a different portion of the visible spectrum, each of the at least four LED light sources being independently controllable, wherein the resultant light emitted from the at least four LED sources substantially approximates that from an incandescent light source.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting system includes a single red LED light source, a single green LED light source, a single blue LED light source, and multiple yellow LED light sources.

3. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the multiple yellow LED light sources are arranged in a ring surrounding the red LED light source, the green LED light source, and the blue LED light source.

4. The lighting system of claim 2, further comprising a circuit coupled to the multiple yellow LED light sources for adjusting their brightness.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least four LED light sources are coupled to separate driver circuitry for adjusting the respective brightness of each color.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least four LED light sources comprise a violet LED, a cyan LED, a yellow-green LED, and an orange LED.

7. An illumination system for stained biological samples comprising:

at least one red LED light source;

at least one blue LED light source;

at least one green LED light source; and

at least one yellow LED light source.

8. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the lighting system includes a single red LED light source, a single green LED light source, a single blue LED light source, and multiple yellow LED light sources.

9. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the multiple yellow LED light sources are arranged in a ring surrounding the red LED light source, the green LED light source, and the blue LED light source.

10. The lighting system of claim 7, further comprising a circuit coupled to the at least one yellow LED light source for adjusting brightness.

11. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one red LED light source emits light within the range of about 625 nm to about 660 nm.

12. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one blue LED light source emits light within the range of about 450 nm to about 500 nm.

13. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one green LED light source emits light within the range of about 480 nm to about 575 nm.

14. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one yellow LED light source emits light within the range of about 575 nm to about 625 nm.

15. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one red LED light source, the at least one green LED light source, the at least one blue LED light source, and the at least one yellow LED light source are coupled to separate driver circuitry for adjusting the respective brightness of each color.

16. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one red LED light source, the at least one green LED light source, and the at least one blue LED light source are contained in a first module and the at least one yellow LED light is contained in a second module.

17. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein the first and second modules are arranged generally perpendicular to a beam splitter, the beam splitter combining the light emitted from the fist module with light emitted from the second module.

18. A microscope illumination system comprising:

a light source comprising at least one red LED, at least one green LED, at least one blue LED, and at least one yellow LED;

a sample holder disposed within the optical path of the light source, the sample holder configured to hold a biological sample; and

an optical magnification device for magnifying an image of the biological sample.

19. The microscope illumination system according to claim 18, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of yellow LEDs surrounding the at least one red LED, at least one green LED, at least one blue LED.

20. The microscope illumination system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one red LED, at least one green LED, at least one blue LED, and at least one yellow LED are mounted on a common substrate.

21. The microscope illumination system according to claim 18, further comprising control circuitry for modifying the brightness of the at least one yellow LED with respect to the at least one red LED, the at least one green LED, and the at least one blue LED.

22. The microscope illumination system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one red LED light source emits light within the range of about 625 nm to about 660 nm.

23. The lighting system of claim 18, wherein the at least one blue LED light source emits light within the range of about 450 nm to about 500 nm.

24. The lighting system of claim 18, wherein the at least one green LED light source emits light within the range of about 480 nm to about 575 nm.

25. The lighting system of claim 18, wherein the at least one yellow LED light source emits light within the range of about 575 nm to about 625 nm.

26. A method of illuminating a biological sample comprising:

providing an illumination source having at least four LEDs including at least one red LED, at least one green LED, at least one blue LED, and at least one yellow LED;

providing a biological sample in the optical path of the illumination source; and

illuminating the biological sample with the at least four LEDs.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the illumination source includes multiple yellow LEDs.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of adjusting the brightness of the at least one yellow LED relative to the remaining three LEDs.